All Posts in Category: Flossing

While most people would never dream of skipping a day of brushing, flossing is a step that many people do skip. In fact, a recent study revealed that 18.5% of Americans never floss and nearly 30% floss sporadically. If you’ve been to the dentist lately, you have probably been asked if you have been flossing, and there is a good reason for that question: flossing in an integral part of oral health.

What is flossing?

Unlike brushing (which cleans the surfaces of teeth), floss is an interdental cleaner, which means that Floss can clean between teeth. Cleaning between teeth, where a toothbrush cannot reach, is so important that the US Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement supporting the ADA’s recommendation of daily flossing.

Types of floss

A quick trip down the dental care aisle will illustrate just how many floss options are available.

Additionally, children also need to floss; just like with brushing, parental supervision will be required until around age 8 to ensure a thorough job is done.

Benefits of Flossing

A professor at the New York University School of Dentistry contends that most people are not diligent flossers because they do not immediately see results; however, the benefits of flossing are extended far beyond just food particle removal.

Food removal: As bits of food get stuck between teeth, they can cause discomfort and eventually an odor. This is particularly important for those wearing braces to be diligent yet careful with flossing.

Removes bacteria: Even after a good brushing, bacteria and debris can still hide between teeth. Bacteria can lead to tooth decay, so it is important to remove as much as possible.

Help prevent gum disease: How does flossing work to fight gum disease? Tartar and plaque are more than just unsightly; they creep below the gum line, which then can cause periodontitis. Periodontitis, a severe gum disease, is characterized by red swollen gum, tooth loss, and bone loss. By removing plaque, flossing helps prevent the cycle of plaque to periodontitis.